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William Haine is a Democratic member of the Illinois State Senate. Haine has served in the Illinois Senate since 2002 after being appointed by former Governor George Ryan to the seat. Before becoming a Senator, Haine served as the Madison County State's Attorney from 1988 to 2002 and was a Member of the Madison County Board of Commissioners in 1978 and from 1982 to 1988.

Haine graduated from Saint Louis University with his Bachelor's degree in 1967 and his Juris Doctor degree in 1974.

Committee assignments

2011-2012

In the 2011-2012 legislative session, Haine has been appointed to these committees:

2009-2010

Issues

Gaming license

On December 1, 2010, the Illinois Senate voted 31-20 in favor of a plan that allows for five additional casinos and electronic gaming at horse track facilities, increasing the number of licenses for casinos in the state to 15.

Under the plan, new casinos would operate in Chicago, southern Cook County, Danville, Rockford and Waukegan.

"Is it a huge expansion? Yes, I'm not going to deny it. But we have a huge deficit in the state of Illinois, we have got huge problems in the state of Illinois, so you don't look at little things to fix it, you look at big things to fix it," said the bill's sponsor, Sen. Terry Link, D-Waukegan.

Protests

In May 2011, Wilhelmi sponsored House Bill 180, which would require protesters to move an extra 100 feet away from grieving families at funeral services.

Senators unanimously approved House Bill 180 to keep protesters at a distance of 300 feet away from the funeral site. Protesters are not permitted to engage in “disorderly conduct,” such as loud singing, playing music and chanting, 30 minutes before and after the funeral or memorial service.

“I think the 300 feet will … expand the zone slightly so that families who are grieving will be less disrupted and will have the ability to mourn the loss of their loved ones, without this bill failing in court,” said state Sen. A.J. Wilhelmi.

Wilhelmi added that the bill still protects freedom of speech.

Sen. William Haine, a co-sponsor, said the legislation helps provide respect to military families.

“It is certainly within the interest of this state to establish peace and order at a funeral site,”said Haine.[3]

Elections

2008

On November 4, 2008, Democrat William Haine won re-election to the Illinois State Senate District 56 receiving 82,672 votes.[4]